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5.07.2012

Pride Toronto rejects comments by guest on Rob and Doug Ford radio show

7 May, 2011 (Toronto) – Yesterday, a guest on (Toronto Mayor) Rob
and (Toronto City Councillor) Doug Ford’s radio show made comments that promote and rekindle old
prejudices that the LGBTTIQQ2SA* communities have fought for decades to
combat.

After good-faith efforts to acquaint the Fords with
our communities, Pride Toronto is disappointed that these homophobic
comments were aired unchallenged. These comments demonstrate the
continued need for Pride as a celebration of our communities and
cultures, and a space for proud expression of who we are.

Planning is well underway for a successful 2012
Pride Toronto Festival, which celebrates the history, courage, diversity
and future of Toronto’s LGBTTIQQ2SA communities. This goal is clearly
as important today as it has ever been.

Toronto residents deserve confirmation that their
elected officials likewise support acceptance and celebration of our
communities, and in particular do not cling to past negative stereotypes
about LGBTTIQQ2SA people or people living with HIV/AIDS.

Moreover, Pride Toronto stands in solidarity with
people living with HIV/AIDS against bigotry and intolerance directed at
them, and calls upon our elected officials to do the same.

Pride Toronto is the
not-for-profit organization that hosts Pride Week, an annual event in
downtown Toronto during the last week of June. Pride Week is one of the
premier arts and cultural festivals in Canada. It is also one of the
largest Pride celebrations in the world with an estimated attendance of
over 1.2 million people. It celebrates the history, courage, diversity
and future of Toronto's LGBTTIQQ2SA* communities.